Liquid sampler



Aug. 19, 1952 H. A. QUIST ,2

LIQUID SAMPLER Filed Dec. 50, 1949 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 Fig.

INVENTOR. HAROLD A. QUQST ATTOR w E H. A. QUIST LIQUID SAMPLER Aug. 19, 1952 Filed Dec. 50,

2 SHEETSSHEET 2 INVENTOR. HAROLD A. QUIST ATTORNEYS other containers.

Patented Aug. 19, 1952 UNIT D s LIQUID sAMPLEn.

Harold A. Quist, Elkton, Md assignorto son on Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation vof New Jersey Application December 30, 1949, Serial No. 136,019

This invention relates generally to devices adapted to be lowered into a body of liquid for the purpose of taking liquid samples at selected depths. Such devices have many useful applications as, for example, in the petroleum and chemical industries for the taking of samples of oil or other liquid from storage tanks, tank cars, or In the petroleum industry such devices are frequently referred to as sampling bombs or,'when equipped with temperature indicating means as shownhere, they are frequently referred to as temperature thieves.

The problem of obtaining samples at predetermined levels in a body of liquid for test and measurement purposes has been approached in many ways. The sampling device, usually in the form of a cup or hollow rod, has been modified by various mechanical and manually operated valve structures. The hollow rod type is limited to shallow tanks or barrels and cannot be used for great depths as required by the petroleum and chemical industries. The simplest of the cup devices is a receptacle which has no valve closure but depends upon a washing action caused by raising and lowering the cup at the desired level in hopes of obtaining a true sample at that strata. It is common practice to fasten a thermometer in these receptacles to obtain a temperature reading. Improvements have been made to include valve mechanisms which remain open until the proper level is reached,the liquid passing freely through the sampling vessel until a release closes the valve capturing a sample supposedly 'restricted to the liquid at the desired level. More complicated valve arrangements have been suggested which require separate operating lines in addition to the normal suspension line and some involve springs and weights which open and close the receptacle on proper excitation. It is the purpose of this specification to disclose a valved liquid sampler which-is simple in structure and operation, requiring a single suspending and activating line, and the valved closures are operated by the liquid to be sampled. In addition, the interior of the device disclosed is kept free'of liquid until the desired sampling level is reached where it is filled at that strata and refuses further addition of liquid as it is withdrawn from the body of the stored liquid. 1

The device broadly includes a closed receptacle which is apertured at the top and bottom. A valve member cooperating with the'bottom aperture is held in closed position while the receptacle is lowered into a liquid body. A hinged cover keeps the liquid from entering the aperture in-the 4. Claims. (01. 73-4254) top of the vesseland acts as an air escape during the submerged operation. A single line suspends the device and actuates the lower valve at the predetermined elevation.

Figure l is an elevation of the device.

Figure 2 is a cross-section on line 2-2 of. Figure 1. I

Figures 3A, B, C and D show several stages in the operation of the device,

Referring now to the various figures of the drawing wherein like numerals of reference designate similar parts in each of the figures, the numeral Hldesignates a substantially cylindrical vessel enclosed by the top I l and the bottom l2. An aperture I3 is shown in thetop of the vessel covered by a flap I4 held externallyv in registry with the aperture l3 bythe hinge l5. An angled extension [6 of the flap i=4 projects beyond, the hinge and limits the extentofthe upward movement relative to the receptacle. A thermometer H, which may be used or omitted .as desired depending onthe purpose. the devicev is required to serve, is shown inserted through an opening 2! in the top I I, secured by the stop er 23.

An aperture I8 is shown in the bottom of the receptacle through which valvefmem'ber 20 acts as aclosure from the inside of the receptacle ID. A flexible valve rod 22 'islatta ched to the valve member 20 and extends through the aperture 18, terminating in a hook 2-6 on the end. A pin 40 is fastened to the valve rod 22 as a Stop to control upward movement. The spider l9, shown in elevation in Figure 2,.fits into'the aperture 18 leaving a substantial opening,'and.' guides the valve rod 22 in opening and closing the aperture. The trigger arm 24 is mounted on the bottom of 'receptacle H] by 'a pivotal-"connection 2 8 and a bracket flll, and is notched at 25. to releasably engage the hooked .end 26, of thevalve rod. The trigger mechanism, including the trigger arm 24, the pivot 28 and the bracket 30 is operably connected to the lowering or operating line 32 which passes downwardly through the receptacle in a stabilizing tube 34 and fastens to the end of trigger arm 24 opposite tothe hook engaging end, at 36. A weight 38 is suspended from the operating line andtri ger arm union 36 and will be referred to later as part of the operating mechanism.

In describingthe operation of the device, reference will be made generally'to Figures 1 and 2 and more particularly to Figures. 3A, 13,0. and D in which the thermometerfha's been emitted .for clarity. The device islowered into the body of I the liquid from which I the-Q'sample 'is' to be taken.

It is lowered slowly to prevent the hinged cover or flap l4 mounted on the top of the receptacle l in registry with the upper aperture l3 from being opened by the liquid. The upper surface of the flap I4 is curved, as shown, to further resist the opening tendency during the lowering of the device. Ina-Figure 3A the receptacle is shown after it has been lowered to the desired depth in the liquid. The suspending line, passing downwardly through the receptacle in the stabilizing tube 34, connects with the trigger arm 24 as described. The stabilizing tube 34 is sealed at the top and bottom of the receptacle toprevent the entrance of liquid into the interior of 'tlrereceptacle except through the valved opening'in the bottom. It is desirable to locate the tube 34 as near the longitudinal axis of the receptacleilas .possible Without interfering with the apertured closures, .as its purpose is to assist in keeping the device upright inthe liquid body.

'An additional means .for' keep'ing the receptacle substantially "upright .is theweight 38. "It acts, 'further, 'as themeans'ior moving 'the trigger arm 24 to release the springvalvefrod 22 as 's'hownin Figure 3A'when the suspending oroperatin line '32 is"slackenedbyrapid,sh0rt up'and-down'movement. The concentration of the Weight intoa "body "smaller in'area than the bottom surf ace of the receptacle moves the trigger arm downward to the releasing position against 'the natural buoyancy "of the receptacle. After the spring va1ve'rod22 xiisengages from the trigger arm 24 by "springing away "from the contact, the valve .h'eadnis forced upwardly by 'theliquid pressure until stopped by the pin "40 coming into contact with the spider "f9 which centers "the valve in operating ,positionyas'shown in Figure 3B. The flap cover M rs heldtightly-closed by-the liquid pressure outside the receptacle. The incoming liquid'urg'ed intothe-receptacle through'the lower aperture 1 8 :by hydrostaitic pressure, compresses th'e.aiiriinthere'cepta'cleto establish an equilibrium. "Due to the"length of the receptacle, how- .ever, the flap "cover M*is'at a'hydrostaticpressure lless than'that "attheiower valve level and an equilibrium of pressures is prevented by the .air .escapingthroughthe upper -aperture l-3 by forcingthe flap icover upward. The angled-extension ft of thei'lap 14 keeps the flap from ;moving beyond the Vertical "and in position to reecover f'the aperture 3.

LTheireceptacleTOTisthen.heldstationary at the .desired elevation it with liquid from the .slectedstra'ta of 'theiliquid. The'ipre'ssure differential .of the hydrostatic head "between the top andbottom of the receptacleissuifi-cient to force thejliquid in at the bottom valve opening and to release the trapped air from the 'upper aperture. This is readily 'un'derstoodif "a receptacle 1'8 inches'l'ong is'taken'asan example. The pressure difierence'betwe'en the top 'and' bottom will approximate on'e halI pound per square inch. The receptacle, after 'filling, is moved smoothly up :and down'towashtheliquid through the 'device to remove possible 'air bubbles, and to in- .sure bringing "the receptable to 'the temperature of 'the'ligui'd atthat 'level'wh'en temperature is tob'emeasured, asshown'in Figure 3C. This is accomplished in a "fewmovemen'ts and the 'deviceis then'ready to'bepulledout of the liquid. The. removal "of thereceptacle from the 'body of the liquid maybe 'maderap'idly as the change "in the external liuuidpressure on "valve '20 and the weight'df theliquid ins'idethe receptacle will may be any desired shape providin the valve mechanisms in the top and bottom are retained.

-It:may :be mentioned further that the type of material from "which the device is made is not of great "importance but is preferably of metal :toadd weight and to Withstand pressures.

I claim:

'1. A liquid sampling device comprising a closed receptacle having an aperture in the top and bottom 'thereof; 'a' 'fl'ap closure externally hinged to the -top of said receptacle in registry with the aperture therein and restricted to limited open- "ing -movement; .a stabilizing tube extending longitudinally through said receptaclein sealed c'onmotion with the top and bottom' 'thereof; :valve means arranged to cooperate 'with'the bottom aperture of 'sai'dreceptacleand control'the flow-of liquid therethrough; a trigger rod positioned .:on the'bottom of said -'re'ceptacle adapted to releasably engage said valve means an operating line to suspend said: receptacle, attachedto the trigger rod and passed upward through the stabilizing tube; 'and a Weight depending from said .line :to submerge lthe receptacle and operate th'etrigger rod.

2. .n li'qui'disampling:devioeicomprisingza closed receptacle having 'an upperiand 2a loweriapertur-e thereinpa stabilizing tube'extending' longitudinally through said receptacle in sealed connection with the top and bottom thereof, ran .foperating line passing through :said tube, "a valve member inside the receptacle arranged to peripherally engage the-lower aperture 'thereof, .a fiexibleivalve rod operably engaging said valve member and extending through said lower ap'ertur-e, a trigger mechanism pivota'lly suspended from the bottom of said receptacle in releasing engagement with the fiexiblevalve rod and fastened to said operating line, and a flap closure hinge connected to the topofithe receptacle-andregistered with the upper'opening externally-ofsaidsreceptacle.

3. .A liquid "sampling device comprising a :receptaclehaving upper and lower apertures there- "in, a cover hinged externally of the receptacle registered with the upper aperture and restricted to limited upward movement, a valve member internall-y-of said receptacle 'and cooperatively positioned "in the lower aperture thereof, a spring valve rod in operable engagement with and --extending downwardly from said valve member "through the lower aperture of the receptacle, a

trigger member p'ivotally mounted -.externally of "therecep'ta'cle and adapted to releasably engage the spring valve rod, *a lowering "line operably engaging the trigger member and a weight de- "pend'ing'from said trigger-member.

4. iAliqui'd sampling device-comprising a closed receptacle having an aperture in the top-and bottom thereof, a hinged closure externally-"mounted on said receptacle in =re'gistry with the top aper- 'ture, a valve member positioned in the bottom 'aperture and adaptedto'control-the flow of liquid 'therethrough 'a flexible valve-rod 'operably enga'gin-g said valve *member and extending through 5 6 said bottom aperture, a trigger mechanism releasably engaging said flexible valve rod and a UNITED STATES PATENTS lowering line to suspend said receptacle operably Number Name Date connected to said trigger mechanism. 38 Tagnabue May 5 1863 5 1911302 Birge May 25, 1877 HMOLD QUIST' 1,296,794 Haggstrom Mar. 11, 1919 2 059 999 Rainville Nov. 3 1936 RE E T D FER NCES CI E 2,388,548 Jurs, Jr Nov. 6, 1945 The followmg references are of record 1n the 2436337 White et aL Feb 24,1948

file of this patent: 10 

